Electrical connector



Sept. 15, 1964 KATSUMI HARANO ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed April 16, 1962 K O T m V m KATSUH/ HARANO;

ATTORNEY United States Patent C) F 3,148,225 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Katsumi Harano, 5609 Bowcroft, Los Angeles 16, Calif. Filed Apr. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 187,840 2 Claims. (Cl. 339221) The present invention relates to electrical connectors so constructed and arranged as to be readily secured to an insulated terminal board without the use of rivets, screws, and similar means for holding the connector to the board.

The electrical connector of the present invention is particularly adaptable for use by experimenters who wish to rapidly change circuits with minimum effort and is particularly useful by children who desire to provide circuits for electrical toys. The electrical connector of the invention is adaptable for classroom instruction and teaching different circuitry such as used in printed circuits and circuit connections generally.

An object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector for electric wires or leads which will secure the wire in a positive manner without soldering or utilizing binding screws.

A further object is the provision of an electrical connector which effectively and efiiciently will secure several electrical leads or wires and hold the same against movement to insure a good electrical contact.

A further object is the provision of an electrical connector so formed as to be readily secured to a terminal or connector board without the use of screws, solder or other means.

A further object is to provide an electrical connector that does not require conventional terminal lugs for attachment to leads, is self locking in a terminal board, positive in its operation in that electrical leads are secured against movement thereto, which has a long useful life and is generally superior to electrical connectors now known to the inventor.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of several of the electrical connectors of the invention attached to a terminal board;

FIGURE 2 is a rear perspective view of the electrical connector of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a front perspective view of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of FIG- URE l, and on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view of two connectors of the invention secured to a terminal board, and holding electrical leads;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the line 66 of FIGURE 5, and showing the position of certain parts of the connector when engaging an electrical lead;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a hand device for use in applying the electrical connectors in sequence to the terminal board;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the device of FIGURE 7 holding a series of connectors;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary view showing operation of the device of FIGURE 7 in holding and likewise releasing the lowermost electrical connector of a series of electrical connectors; and,

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary rear elevation, partly in section, showing the device of FIGURE 7, and an electrical connector carried thereby.

Referring specifically to FIGURES 2 and 3, I form the electrical terminal from a lightweight metal such as spring brass in strip form. Thus the terminal may be formed from a single strip by machine. The terminal includes a base 1 of a selected width having a first pair of legs 2 and 3 in slightly divergent relationship to base ice 1. The leg 2 is of greater length than leg 3 and both legs 2 and 3 are provided along their edges with equal size wings 4 and 5 for leg 2, and 6 and 7 for leg 3. The wings on the leg 2 are formed by cutting the edges of the leg transversely for a short distance and then bending the wings at a divergent angle to the plane of the leg toward leg 3. In case of leg 3, the wings 6 and 7 are bent inwardly toward leg 2 at an angle to the plane of the leg. The end or top edge 8 of leg 2 is provided with a downwardly extending keyhole slot 9. Leg 3 joins leg 10 of a second pair of legs 10 and 12. Leg 10 is substantially the width of leg 3 between the wings 6 and 7. A loop portion 11 joins legs 10 and 12 and said legs are substantially parallel and spaced apart. The leg 10 is substantially in right angular relationship to leg 3. A loop is provided at 14 which connects a third pair of legs 13 and 15, the leg 13 being substantially in right angular relationship to leg 12. Legs 13, 15, and the loop 14 receive therebetween the leg 2, the loop portion 14 being spaced above the upper edge 8 of leg 2. The leg 12 is of greater length than leg 10 and brings leg 13 closely adjacent leg 2.

If desired, the base 1 may be provided with a hole 16.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 5, the terminal board 20 may be provided with transverse bores 21 of a diameter sufiicient to receive the wing portions of legs 2 and 3, the .top of the terminal board striking the cut or shoulder portions separating leg 2 from the wings 4 and 5 and thus limiting downward movement of the terminal within a bore 21. It is preferable that the legs 2 and 3 should extend through the board to a position in which base 1 is below the bottom surface of the terminal board. When the shoulder portions formed by the cuts in leg 2 are engaging the top surface of the terminal board, the leg 10 will engage the top of the terminal board, as shown in FIGURE 5 and stabilize the terminal. When it is desired to have an electric Wire engage the terminal, the

finger may grip the loop portion 14 and move the legs 13 and 15 relative to leg 2 by pushing upon the loop portion 14 which will cause fiexion between leg 12 and loop 11, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 6 at 22. Thus, a bare wire 23 of an electrical lead may be received within the keyhole slot 9, as shown at 24, the legs 13 and 15 being released to normal position whereupon edges of the legs 13 and 15 will engage the wire and hold the same gripped on both sides of the intermediate leg 2. It is possible for me to secure an electric wire of any form whether braided, stranded, or solid, and I do not have to thread a wire through a hole which is sometimes difficult. As any bending movement, due to side displacement of legs 13 and 15 occurs in the loop 11, a twist is prevented and the wire 23 has what may be termed a straight across engagement between legs 13, 15, and the slot 9 of leg 2. The leg 2 maintains its upright position and is a stationary leg and only the bent legs, being legs 12, 13, and 15, are moved to the position shown in FIGURE 6.

If desired, a lead wire 30 may be soldered to the base 1, or the lead wire may be inserted through the bore 16 and brought upwardly to be received in the keyhole slot 9, together with the lead wire 23 and both wires will be held clamped when the edges of legs 13 and 15 engage the same. See FIGURE 5. It is evident from the description given, that twist of the leg portions 13 and 15 will not occur relative to leg 2 for the reason that the leg 2 is received between the leg portions 13 and 15 with the leg portions 13 and 15 of lesser width than leg portion 2. Consequently, by moving legs 13 and 15 to one side, as shown in FIGURE 6, twist will not occur because the legs 13 and 15 are guided by the leg 2. Such twist or bending movement as does occur, occurs in the loop portion 11.

Referring to FIGURES 7 to 10 inclusive, I have shown a means whereby the terminals of the present invention may be rapidly placed within bores 21. This device includes an elongated handle 40 having a foot portion 41 at one end thereof, the foot portion curving downwardly at an angle to the plane of the handle. A portion of the handle and the foot portion is longitudinally slotted at 42, and positioned within the slot is a tripping device which constitutes a bar 43 which is curved so as to lie within the slot and conform to the curvature of the foot 41 and the straight portion of the handle. The bar 43 is pinned at 44 to the handle so that the bar may move relative to the handle and the foot. The upper end of the bar is split longitudinally at 45 to provide stops 46 and 48. Stop 46 is bent outwardly at an angle and preterably toward the concave portion 47 of the bar. It is intended that the handle 4%} have placed thereon a series of the electrical terminals arranged transversely thereof, as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 9. Thus the handle 49, which is rectangular in form, is received between the legs 10 and 12 of a stack of electrical terminals positioned as shown in FIGURES 8 and 9. When it is de sired to place one of the terminals within a bore 21, the foot 41 is positioned over the bore Zland against the terminal board which moves the bar 43 upwardly, the bar 43 normally dropping under effect of gravity to the position of FIGURE 7 and, hence, moving the stop 46 inwardly of the slot while the other stop 48 moves to the position shown in FIGURE 9. One of the electrical terminals is, therefore, released while the terminal immediately thereabove is held by the stop 45 against downward movement. A terminal then passes around the curved foot so that the legs 2 and 3 are ready to be received in a bore 21, as illustrated in FIGURE 8, and after insertion of the terminal within the bore, the device may be removed from the terminal, the stop 46 engaging the next descending terminal, as shown in FIGURE 8. In this manner it is possible to insert terminals within the bores 21 rapidly and eiliciently. v

The operation, uses and advantages of the invention, are as follows.

Obviously, the electrical terminals may be inserted within bores 21 without use of the device shown in FIG- URES 7 and 10 as the terminal is limited as to its downward movement within a bore and the wings 4 to 7 inclusive exert frictionalengagement with the wall bounding the bore. Preferably the wing portions pass through the bore so that the base 1 is positioned below the bottom surface of the terminal board. The shoulder portions of leg 2 and the leg 10 engage the top surface of the board and thus stabilize the terminal in an upright position.

" The terminal may, of course, extend horizontally if desired. Hence, for toys or experimental use various wiring circuits may be quickly formed and changes made in cured in the bore of a terminal board, including: a strip of electrical conducting spring metal bent to provide a first pair of substantially parallel legs and a connecting base, one leg of said first pair being of greater length than the other leg, a second pair of substantially parallel legs and a loop portion interconnecting said legs, the second pair of parallel legs being of unequal length and in substantially right angular relationship, with the leg of shortest length connecting with the shorter leg of the first pair of legs and a third pair of spaced apart unequal length legs interconnected by a loop portion in substantially right angular relationship to the second pair of legs, with the legs of longest length of the second and third pairs of legs interconnected; the longest leg of the first pair of legs having a portion thereof interposed between the third pair of legs; both legs of the first pair of legs provided with edge wings at an angle to the plane of the respective legs for frictionally fitting said portion in the bore of the terminal board with the shortest leg of the second pair of legs resting on the surface of said terminal board.

2. The terminal as set forth in claim 1, the outermost end of the longest leg or" said first pair of legs provided with a keyhole slot adapted to receive a wire of an electrical lead when the third pair of legs are moved sideways to expose said keyhole slot, and to grip said wire on opposite sides of the leg provided with the keyhole slot when the third pair of legs are released.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,165,519 Kuskin Dec. 28, 1915 1,702,024 Smith et al. Feb. 12, 1929 2,497,484 Wood Feb. 14, 1950 2,551,970 Sampson May 8, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 460,731 Great Britain Nov. 2, 1933 

1. AN ELECTRIC TERMINAL ADAPTED TO BE DETACHABLY SECURED IN THE BORE OF A TERMINAL BOARD, INCLUDING: A STRIP OF ELECTRICAL CONDUCTING SPRING METAL BENT TO PROVIDE A FIRST PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL LEGS AND A CONNECTING BASE, ONE LEG OF SAID FIRST PAIR BEING OF GREATER LENGTH THAN THE OTHER LEG, A SECOND PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL LEGS AND A LOOP PORTION INTERCONNECTING SAID LEGS, THE SECOND PAIR OF PARALLEL LEGS BEING OF UNEQUAL LENGTH AND IN SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGULAR RELATIONSHIP, WITH THE LEG OF SHORTEST LENGTH CONNECTING WITH THE SHORTER LEG OF THE FIRST PAIR OF LEGS AND A THIRD PAIR OF SPACED APART UNEQUAL LENGTH LEGS INTERCONNECTED BY A LOOP PORTION IN SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGULAR RELATIONSHIP TO THE SECOND PAIR OF LEGS, WITH THE LEGS OF LONGEST LENGTH OF THE SECOND AND THIRD PAIRS OF LEGS INTERCONNECTED; THE LONGEST LEG OF THE FIRST PAIR OF LEGS HAVING A PORTION THEREOF INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE THIRD PAIR OF LEGS; BOTH LEGS OF THE FIRST PAIR OF LEGS PROVIDED WITH EDGE WINGS AT AN ANGLE TO THE PLANE OF THE RESPECTIVE LEGS FOR FRICTIONALLY FITTING SAID PORTION IN THE BORE OF THE TERMINAL BOARD WITH THE SHORTEST LEG OF THE SECOND PAIR OF LEGS RESTING ON THE SURFACE OF SAID TERMINAL BOARD. 